Healthcare Technology: Merging Medicine, IT, and Data Science

Healthcare Technology: Merging Medicine, IT, and Data Science

This interdisciplinary capstone project focuses on creating an innovative healthcare technology solution, such as a mobile health application, that leverages advancements in medicine, information technology (IT), and data science. The goal is to improve patient care, increase accessibility, and optimize healthcare management through technology.

• Medicine: Medical students or professionals involved in the project would work to define the primary health challenges the app should address. Whether it’s managing chronic diseases, improving medication adherence, or providing access to remote consultations, the medical component is key to ensuring the app meets patient needs. Medical professionals would also offer insights into the usability and accuracy of the app’s health-related features, such as symptom tracking, prescription management, and virtual consultations with doctors.

• IT (Information Technology): IT students would focus on the technical development of the app. This includes designing the software architecture, ensuring the app is user-friendly, and integrating the app with electronic health records (EHR) systems or medical devices. They would also need to ensure data security and privacy, adhering to healthcare regulations like HIPAA. The IT component would also involve designing algorithms that can personalize the user experience, such as sending medication reminders or providing tailored health advice based on user data.

• Data Science: Data science students would analyze the data collected by the app, such as users’ health metrics (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure) or activity levels, to derive insights that can help improve user outcomes. They could use machine learning models to predict potential health risks or suggest lifestyle changes to users based on their health data. Additionally, data science students could explore how data trends can be analyzed across a large population to identify public health patterns or assist healthcare professionals in making informed decisions.

By merging these three fields, the project could create a practical, user-friendly healthcare solution that has the potential to make healthcare more personalized, accessible, and efficient, particularly in remote or underserved areas.